KAMPALA, UGANDA: Lands Minister Ms. Judith Nabakooba has suspended the leadership at Uganda Land Commission after a recent investigation at the commission pinned the top officials over increased corruption and bribery.
The Minister has also taken over as the interim Head of the Commission at the same time as investigations continue to dig deeper into the matter.
Ms. Nabakooba has now written to President Yoweri Museveni informing him that the IGG investigation has resulted into an administrative standoff between the Chairperson and other Commissioners, bringing the activities of the Commission to a standstill.
“In order to restore normality in the short term, I have taken the following steps; I decided to temporarily assume the duties of managing the Commission as we establish the true genesis of the problems,” said Nabakooba in a letter to the President.
Her decision is provided for under Section 55 of the Land Act, where a Minister is required to give policy direction to the Commission on any matters.
The development comes after the Commission Chairperson, Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki recently wrote CIID Director Ms. Grace Akullo requesting for an investigation into her staff over alleged corruption and bribery.
Police in reaction to the matter arrested and detained four senior officials at the Commission accused of corruption and bribery. These are; Barbarah Imaryo, the Accounting Officer, Chris Otim, a junior accountant, Denis Musinguzi, a Lands Officer, and Nowa Hasashya (Auditor).
Nabakooba in her letter to the President has also requested that the Auditor General carries out a forensic audit of all key transactions by the Commission, and submit a report quickly.
“Further, I have requested the Inspector General of Government to carry out an investigation into alleged cases of abuse and misuse of Commission resources,” she said.
The findings of the Report, Nabakooba said will guide the process of restoring order and normal functioning of the Commission.
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